In a message dated 18/03/2009 09:50:46 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I am a new subscriber. I am interested in the coalminer's strike of 1859 in the Seaton Delaval area. I believe that my Gt Gt Grandfather Alexander WATSON was one of the eight sentenced to 2 months on the treadmill at Morpeth prison. They were all churchmen and were used as examples. Can anyone supply information or point me in the right direction. ______________________________________________________________________ Hi Peter, >From The Newcastle Courant, Friday 26th July 1859. Strike at Seaton Delaval Colliery. On Thursday morning, a body of the Northumberland county police arrested, at Seaton Delaval , Thomas Benny, Henry Bell, Amos Hetherington, Alexander Watson, Anthony Bolam, Robert Burt, Thomas Wakinshaw, Edward Davies, and Wilson Ritson, on a charge of having quitted their employment at Seaton Delaval Colliery, without giving the usual month’s notice according to the terms of their monthly contract. Benny, on being locked up, was taken seriously ill, having a succession of fits. The whole of them were taken before Mr. George Rippon, who sat at the George Tavern in the afternoon to hear the case. Mr. Kewney appeared for the prosecution. Amos Hetherington was the first to appear in the dock. Mr. Kewney said the men were charged under the 4th George IV., cap. 34, sec.3, with having broken a contract whereby they were bound to give a month’s notice. The work was urgent, and taking advantage of this the men demanded an advance of 3d. per ton, which was not acceded to, whereupon these men left their work. Mr. Forster, viewer, proved the contract, and said the men wrought up to Friday last. They received their pay on Saturday. If discharged without a months notice, the men claim a month’s wages. On Monday they did not go to work. On Tuesday they sent a deputation demanding 3d. per ton advance. He refused it, - Hetherington said that he was sorry the contract was broken. He appealed to Mr. Forster whether the state of the mine was not so altered that the men could not make as living. They were a set of peaceable men. They asked Mr Forster if he meant to give any more advance, and he said he would not. This case then stood over, and the others having been heard, the men were severally sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. The general defence of the men was that the pit was not safe. Several other colliers who were in court listening to this case were then apprehended on a similar charge. On Friday these were brought before the same magistrate, and were discharged on promising to return to work. The men on strike at the colliery have since resumed their employment. Stan Mapstone